Washing machine and driving device thereof

ABSTRACT

A washing machine may include a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet and configured to contain wash water; a drum inside the tub and configured to contain laundry; a water supply device configured to supply the wash water into the tub; a drain configured to discharge the wash water in the tub to the outside; a driving device configured to provide power to the drum; and a control device configured to control the driving device, wherein the driving device includes a driving shaft connected to the drum; a rotor configured to rotate the driving shaft; and a bolt coupled to the driving shaft, the bolt having a head inside the rotor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a washing machine and a driving device (e.g., motor) therefor.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine is an apparatus for separating contaminants from laundry using wash water and detergent. The contaminants can be separated from the laundry by chemical action of the detergent in the wash water and mechanical action of the wash water and an inner basket of the washing machine. Washing machines may be classified according to the method of placing laundry therein. For example, there are top-loading washing machines, front-loading washing machines, and hybrid washing machines, combining features of the top-loading and front-loading washing machines.

Recently, miniaturized washing machines that can be installed in a narrow space such as a bathroom, a toilet or the like have been developed. Accordingly, front-loading washing machines known as drum washing machines are widely used.

For example, drum washing machines may include a cabinet defining an external shape of the washing machine, a tub inside the cabinet and configured to contain wash water, a rotatable drum inside the tub and configured to contain laundry, a driving device configured to provide power to the drum, a water supply device configured to supply wash water to the tub, and a drain configured to discharge the wash water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet.

Referring to FIG. 1, the driving device of the conventional drum washing machine includes a stator 1 configured to form a rotating magnetic field by flowing current through a coil, and a rotor 5 rotating outside the stator 1 and joined to a driving shaft 3, which rotates with the rotor 5. The center of the rotor 5 extends toward the outside of the washing machine and is coupled to the driving shaft 3 in the center using a bolt 7. Accordingly, the bolt 7 coupling the driving shaft 3 to the rotor 5 further extends toward the outside of the washing machine. That is, there is a disadvantage in that the volume of the washing machine increases by the length of the bolt 7 beyond the end of the driving shaft 3.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention have been proposed to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with a smaller overall size, and a driving device (e.g., motor) thereof.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet and configured to contain wash water; a drum inside the tub and configured to contain laundry; a water supply device configured to supply the wash water into the tub; a drain configured to discharge the wash water in the tub (e.g., outside of the washing machine); a driving device (e.g., a motor) configured to provide power (e.g., a rotational force) to the drum; and a control device configured to control the driving device, wherein the driving device includes a driving shaft connected to the drum; a rotor configured to rotate the driving shaft; and a bolt coupled to the driving shaft, the bolt having a head within the rotor.

The rotor may include a rotor frame; a bushing at a center of the rotor frame; and a bolt receiver in the bushing. The bolt receiver may include a threaded cavity or tapped hole having a diameter corresponding to a shaft of the bolt; and a recess overlapping the threaded cavity or tapped hole. The recess may be configured to receive an entirety of the head of the bolt.

The recess may have a diameter greater than that of the head of the bolt, and the threaded cavity or tapped hole may have a diameter smaller than that of the head.

The washing machine may further comprise one or more bearings configured to support the driving shaft. The bolt receiver may include a coupling unit corresponding to a size of the bearing. Alternatively, the coupling unit may be in the bushing (and may be coupled therein). As a further alternative, the coupling unit and the bushing may be unitary or integrated with each other (i.e., not separate components).

The driving shaft may have a front end coupled to the drum and a back end coupled to the bolt receiver of the rotor.

The bolt receiver may have a front end that has a diameter corresponding to the back end of the driving shaft.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving device (e.g., motor) configured to provide a driving force to a drum in a washing machine configured to contain laundry, the driving device comprising a driving shaft connected to the drum; a rotor configured to rotate the driving shaft; and a bolt coupled to the driving shaft, wherein the bolt is inside the rotor and does not extend outside (e.g., beyond an outermost surface of) the rotor.

The rotor may include a rotor frame; and a bolt receiver at one side of the rotor frame and having the driving shaft therein. The driving device may further comprise a stator configured to provide a driving force to the rotor. The rotor frame may surround the stator and may have a center that includes a hole therein. The bolt receiver may be at the center of the rotor frame.

The driving device may further comprise a bushing between the rotor frame and the bolt receiver, and the bolt may be inside the bolt receiver.

The bolt receiver may include a coupling unit in the bushing (which may be coupled therein); a threaded cavity or tapped hole having a diameter corresponding to the bolt, configured to receive the bolt (e.g., the shaft of the bolt); and/or a recess configured to receive a head of the bolt.

The washing machine and driving device thereof according to embodiments of the present invention have an effect of reducing the overall size of the washing machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a conventional washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of area A in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the driving device and spider in the washing machine of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that specific descriptions about related known configurations and functions may make the gist of the present invention unclear, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of area A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the driving device and spider in the washing machine of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, a washing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet 100 forming or defining the external shape of the washing machine 10, a tub 200 inside the cabinet 100 and configured to contain wash water, a drum 300 inside the tub 200 and configured to contain laundry, a water supply device 400 configured to supply wash water to the tub 200, a drain 500 configured to discharge the wash water in the tub 200 to the outside of the washing machine 10, a driving device (e.g., motor) 600 configured to drive (e.g., rotate) the drum 200, and a control device 700 configured to control the driving device 600. In this embodiment, it will be described assuming, for example, that the washing machine 10 is a front-loading type. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto, and washing machines of other types may be included within the present invention.

The cabinet 100 provides an overall external shape of the washing machine 10 and may protect various components therein and have a heat dissipation structure. Specifically, the cabinet 100 may have a space therein, and a door 110 may be at one side (e.g., the front) of the washing machine 10.

The door 110 may close or open one side of the cabinet 100, and when open, the door 110 allows one to put in or take out laundry. Specifically, when a user puts laundry that needs to be washed into the washing machine 10 or takes out the laundry of which washing is finished, the user may open the door 110 and put in or take out the laundry, and when the washing process is progressed, the inlet hole (not shown) to the drum 300 and tub 200 may be covered and/or blocked by the door 110.

The tub 200 may be inside the cabinet 100. The tub 200 may be configured to contain wash water and may have an open side or end. Specifically, the tub 200 may be cylindrical and may be sloped with respect to the vertical and/or horizontal directions so that the open side or end may face the door 110. In addition, the tub 200 may be supplied with wash water from the water supply device 400 and with detergent and softener through a separate detergent box (not shown).

The drum 300 may be inside the tub 200. The drum 300 may accommodate laundry and may rotate inside the tub 200. In addition, the drum 300 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the tub 200, and may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tub 200 (e.g., by a preset length or amount). Specifically, the drum 300 may be spaced apart from the tub 200 by a predetermined distance.

The drum 300 may rotate by receiving a rotational force from the driving device 600. Specifically, a washing space for washing laundry may be inside the drum 300, and the laundry may move in connection with or in response to rotational movement of the drum 300. The laundry may be washed by the wash water and a detergent supplied inside the tub 200.

A spider 310 may be on the back surface of the drum 300. For example, the front means a side of a given component in the washing machine 10 that is towards the door 110, and the back means a side opposite to the front. The spider 310 rotates by receiving a driving force from the driving device 600, which is separate from the drum 300 and may be coupled on the back of the drum 300. One or more grooves, slots or depressions corresponding to a shape of the spider 310 may be on the back surface of the drum 300 to secure the spider 310 to the back of the drum 300 and ensure transfer of the rotational force from the driving device 600 to the drum 300.

The spider 310 may include a plurality of arms extending from the center in different directions at regular intervals, and the spider 310 may include a hole or opening in the center so that a driving shaft 610 (see FIG. 4) may pass through. The specific method of rotating the drum 300 will be described below.

A plurality of holes may be in the periphery or sidewall of the drum 300 for fluid communication between the interior of the drum 300 and the space between the drum 300 and the tub 200. Specifically, the wash water inside the tub 200 may flow into the drum 300 through the plurality of holes in the periphery or sidewall of the drum 300. In the same manner, the wash water inside the drum 300 may flow into the tub 200 through the plurality of holes in the periphery or sidewall of the drum 300.

The tub 200 may be supplied with the wash water by the water supply device 400. The water supply device 400 is connected to an external water supply source and may be connected to the tub 200 through one side of the cabinet 100. Specifically, the water supply device 400 may be connected to the external water supply source through the back of the cabinet 100 to an external hose (not shown), and supplied with wash water from the external water supply source. The water supply device 400 may directly supply the wash water to the tub 200 or may supply the wash water to the tub 200 through the detergent box.

The wash water in the tub 200 may be discharged to the outside through the drain 500. The drain 500 discharges the wash water to the outside of the cabinet 100 and may include a drain valve 510 configured to control discharge of the wash water and a drain hose 520 connected to the drain valve 510.

The drain valve 510 may communicate with the bottom of the tub 200 and control discharge of the wash water in response to a signal from the control device 700. Specifically, when the wash water used for washing is discharged to the outside, the wash water is discharged through the drain hose 520 by opening the drain valve 510, and when the wash water is supplied for a washing operation, the drain valve 510 is closed to contain the wash water inside the tub 200 and the drum 300.

The drain hose 520 is connected to the drain valve 510, and one side or end thereof may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 100. That is, part of the drain hose 520 is inside the cabinet 100 to be connected to the drain valve 510, and part of the drain hose 520 may be outside of the cabinet 100.

The drum 300 may rotate by receiving a rotational force from the driving device 600. The driving device 600 may include the driving shaft 610 connected to the drum 300, one or more bearings 620 a-b around the driving shaft 610, a bearing housing 630 configured to support and/or enclose the bearing(s) 620 a-b, a rotor 640 configured to rotate the driving shaft 610, a stator 650 configured to drive and/or rotate the rotor 640, and a bolt 660 that couples the rotor 640 to the driving shaft 610.

The driving shaft 610 rotates the drum 300 using the driving force from the rotor 640 and the stator 650. The driving shaft 610 may be connected to the drum 300 through the spider 310. Specifically, the front end of the driving shaft 610 may be coupled to the spider 310, and the back end of the driving shaft 610 may pass through and/or be coupled to the rotor 640 and be fixed to the bolt 660. Accordingly, when the driving shaft 610 rotates from rotational movement of the rotor 640, the spider 310 may rotate, and accordingly, the drum 300 may rotate.

The bearing(s) 620 a-b may rotatably support the driving shaft 610. One or more bearings 620 a-b may surround and optionally contact part of (e.g., a circumference of) the driving shaft 610. Specifically, the bearing(s) 620 a-b may include a front bearing 620 a and a back bearing 620 b, and the front bearing 620 a and the back bearing 620 b may be supported and/or enclosed by the bearing housing 630. For example, the front bearing 620 a may contact part of the drum 300, and the back bearing 620 b may contact part of the rotor 640.

In addition, the bearing housing 630 may be integrated with the tub 200. Alternatively, part of the bearing housing 630 may be exposed outside the tub 200.

The rotor 640 rotates in response to driving pulses from the stator 650 and is coupled to the driving shaft 610. The rotor 640 may include a rotor frame 641, a bushing 642 at the center of the rotor frame 641, a bolt receiver 643 inside the bushing 642, and a reinforcement unit (e.g., a brace) 644 on the back of the rotor frame 641. Specifically, the rotor 640 and the stator 650 may be referred to as a motor 640 and 650.

The rotor frame 641 may be or extend toward the back of the washing machine. Specifically, the rotor frame 641 may surround the stator 650, and may include a hole (not shown or identified) in its center for the bushing 642 and the bolt receiver 643.

The bushing 642 is at the center of the rotor frame 641 and may comprise a synthetic material such as a plastic. In addition, the bolt receiver 643 may be in the driving shaft 610 and the bushing 642.

The bolt receiver 643 may include a recess 643 a configured to receive a head 661 (see FIG. 4) of the bolt 660, a coupling unit 643 b coupled to the bushing 642, and a threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c in the driving shaft 610.

Specifically, the bushing 642 may include a hole or opening (not identified) having a shape corresponding to the bolt receiver 643 in the center so that the bolt 660 may be pass through the bushing 642 and be received in the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c. Optionally, the bolt receiver 643 may have a hole or opening in its center having a size or diameter between those of the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c and the head 661. The bolt receiver 643 may be coupled to the bushing 642 when the coupling unit 643 b is inserted into the bushing 642 (e.g., a flange on the coupling unit 643 b is inserted into a corresponding groove in the interior of the bushing 642). That is, the bushing 642 may be between the rotor frame 641 and the bolt receiver 643. The coupling unit 643 b may have a diameter corresponding to the size of the back bearing 620 b, and the diameter of the coupling unit 643 b may be greater than the hole in the center of the bushing 642.

The outermost or back end of the bolt receiver 643 may comprise a lip or cylinder corresponding to the size and/or shape of the hole in the center of the bushing 642. Specifically, part of the back end of the bolt receiver 643 may be inserted into the center of the bushing 642 and coupled therein.

In addition, the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c in the driving shaft 610 may overlap with the hole or opening in the center of the bolt receiver 643. The threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c may have a diameter corresponding to the threaded part or shaft of the bolt 660 and smaller than the head 661. Accordingly, the head 661 of the bolt 660 cannot enter the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c, and only the shaft of the bolt 660 may be inserted into the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c. That is, the bolt 660 may be coupled to the driving shaft 610 after passing through the hole or opening in the center of the bolt receiver 643 (and optionally, a washer in the recess 643 a) and into the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c.

In addition, the front end of the coupling unit 643 b may have a diameter corresponding to the back end of the driving shaft 610. Accordingly, the driving shaft 610 may be inserted into the bolt receiver 643 and coupled therein.

The recess 643 a may be at the back end of the bolt receiver 643 and in the center of the bushing 642. The recess 643 a overlaps with the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c, and the head 661 of the bolt 660 may be contained completely within the recess 643 a and/or the opening in the center of the bushing 642. The recess 643 a may have a depth greater than the thickness of the head 661 of the bolt 660. Furthermore, the recess 643 a has a size (e.g., a diameter) greater than the diameter of the head 661 of the bolt 660. As a result, the bolt may not protrude or extend outside of the rotor 640 and/or the bushing 642.

In addition, the reinforcement unit 644 may be on the back of the rotor frame 641. The reinforcement unit 644 includes a plurality of ribs or fins at predetermined intervals, which may fit into slots in the rotor frame 641, and reinforce the rotor frame 641 and the bushing 642.

Meanwhile, the driving device 600 may be controlled by the control device 700. The control unit 700 is at one side (e.g., an outside) of the cabinet 100 and may include a handling unit or control knob 710. For example, the handling unit 710 may be at one side (e.g., an upper or uppermost section) on the front of the cabinet 100. The user may control washing operations such as start, stop, rinse and the like using the handling unit 710, and the driving device 600 may operate in response to a signal from the control device 700.

Hereinafter, the action and effect of the washing machine 10 according to embodiments of the present invention having the above configuration(s) will be described.

First, the user may open the door 110 and put laundry into the drum 300. In addition, after the laundry is put in, the user may close the door 110 and control washing operations using the handling unit 710.

When the washing operation begins, wash water may be supplied into the tub 200 and the drum 300 through the water supply device 400. Detergent and/or softener may be selectively added to the wash water inside the tub 200 and the drum 300.

When the tub 200 contains a preset amount of wash water, the control device 700 may drive the driving device 600. Specifically, when the rotor 640 and/or the stator 650 are driven, the driving shaft 610 coupled to the rotor 640 by the bolt 660 may rotate. The back end of the driving shaft 610 may be coupled to the bolt 660, and the front end may be coupled to the spider 310 of the drum 300. That is, the driving force of the rotor 640 may be transferred to the drum 300 by the driving shaft 610, and accordingly, the laundry put in the drum 300 may be washed easily.

The rotor 640 may include the rotor frame 641, the center of which is toward the back of the washing machine, and the bushing 642 and the bolt receiver 643 may be at or in the center of the rotor frame 641.

The bolt receiver 643 may be inserted into the bushing 642, and the bolt 660 may be coupled to the driving shaft 610 through and/or using the bolt receiver 643. Specifically, the recess 643 a having a size larger than the head 661 of the bolt 660 may be in the back end of the bolt receiver 643. In addition, the coupling unit 643 b, which may receive the back end of the driving shaft 610, may be in front of the recess 643 a.

Accordingly, the back end of the driving shaft 610 (the front end of which is connected to the drum 200) may be inside part of the bolt receiver 643, and the bolt 660 may be threaded into the threaded cavity or tapped hole 643 c in the driving shaft 610. Since the rotor 640, bushing 642 and/or bolt receiver 643 have a recess 643 a, the head 661 of the bolt 660 does not extend away from the rotor frame 641 toward the back of the washing machine. As a result, the overall size of the washing machine 10 can be reduced.

The washing machine according to embodiments of the present invention and the driving device thereof have an effect of reducing the overall size of the washing machine.

Although the washing machine according to embodiments of the present invention has been described in specific embodiment forms, the detailed description herein is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It should be interpreted as having the broadest scope consistent with the basic spirit disclosed in this specification. Although those skilled in the art may embody unmentioned features, patterns or shapes by combining or substituting the disclosed embodiments, this also does not depart from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art may easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments on the basis of this specification, and it is apparent that these changes and modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet and configured to contain wash water; a drum inside the tub and configured to contain laundry; a water supply device configured to supply the wash water into the tub; a drain configured to discharge the wash water in the tub to the outside; a driving device configured to provide power to the drum; and a control device configured to control the driving device, wherein the driving device includes: a driving shaft connected to the drum; a rotor configured to rotate the driving shaft; and a bolt coupled to the driving shaft, the bolt having a head within the rotor.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotor includes: a rotor frame; a bushing at a center of the rotor frame; and a bolt receiver in the bushing.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the bolt receiver includes: a threaded cavity or tapped hole having a diameter corresponding to a shaft of the bolt; and a recess overlapping the threaded cavity or tapped hole, configured to receive an entirety of the head of the bolt.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the recess has a diameter greater than that of the head of the bolt, and the threaded cavity or tapped hole has a diameter smaller than that of the head.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the recess has a depth greater than a thickness of the head.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising one or more bearings configured to support the driving shaft.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the bolt receiver includes a coupling unit in the bushing.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the coupling unit corresponds to a size of the bearing.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the driving shaft has a front end coupled to the drum and a back end coupled to the bolt receiver.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the bolt receiver has a front end that has a diameter corresponding to the back end of the driving shaft.
 11. A driving device configured to provide a driving force to a drum in a washing machine configured to contain laundry, the driving device comprising: a driving shaft connected to the drum; a rotor configured to rotate the driving shaft; and a bolt coupled to the driving shaft, wherein the bolt is inside the rotor and does not extend outside of the rotor.
 12. The driving device according to claim 11, wherein the rotor includes: a rotor frame; and a bolt receiver at one side of the rotor frame and having the driving shaft therein.
 13. The driving device according to claim 12, further comprising a stator configured to provide a driving force to the rotor.
 14. The driving device according to claim 13, wherein the rotor frame surrounds the stator and has a center with a hole therein, and the bolt receiver is at the center of the rotor frame.
 15. The driving device according to claim 11, further comprising a bushing between the rotor frame and the bolt receiver.
 16. The driving device according to claim 15, wherein the bolt is inside the bolt receiver.
 17. The driving device according to claim 16, wherein the bolt receiver includes: a threaded cavity or tapped hole having a diameter corresponding to the bolt, configured to receive the bolt; and a recess configured to receive a head of the bolt.
 18. The driving device according to claim 17, wherein the bolt receiver further includes a coupling unit in the bushing.
 19. The driving device according to claim 17, wherein the recess has a depth greater than a thickness of the head and a diameter greater than a diameter or width of the head. 